Priceless

Tank of gas in New Jersey...$27.00

Road snacks, coffee, lunch...$19.00

CD of This American Life to keep me company on my journey...$17.99

Tolls from CT to DC...$22.00

Calling the cops on my neighbor one last time...priceless


Trying to get out of town is always hard. It is extra difficult when it involves the police. But we'll get to that later.


Saturday was awesome! The Hartford Stage folks came and helped me load the last bits of my life into storage and we headed out for one last beer and plate of fried pickles (I swear, they are waaaay better than they sound). Sunday, I spent one last day finishing up my work on the current show at the Stage Co and attempting to prepare the shop for my departure (they are totally in capable hands). After work I had dinner and a milkshake with some very dear friends, finished loading my car and settled onto my air mattress in my empty apartment with the last beer in my fridge and a DVD episode of This American Life on my laptop. (I like the radio show much better than the television program). I fell asleep feeling like all was well in the world, and tomorrow begins a grand new adventure.

I woke up on Monday morning to discover my horrible neighbor aka Mr. Peesonhisownlawn, aka Mr.Shoutsexplitivesintothephone, aka Mr. Barfseverymorning is also Mr. Beatshisdog. So what did I do? I called the Manchester Police one last time. In retrospect, I'm really happy I did. At the time, I wished I had put my kitty into her carrier before my apartment had 3 cops with loud radios and a scared kitty hiding under the bathtub.

Turns out my crappy neighbor had/has several warrants out for his arrest in Florida, and so the police not only arrested him for animal cruelty but also for whatever he did in Florida (in my mind it involves peeing on his lawn). The police were very nice to me, thanked me for calling them and were more than happy to take this guy away. They even offered to help me try to extricate the cat from beneath the bathtub, but I thought it might be better to let her chill for 20 minutes.

Once Ms.Kitty came out from under the bathtub, was properly sedated (as prescribed by the vet) and her carrier safely belted into the car we were on our way. The trip was pretty smooth. We got stuck on the George Washington Bridge for about an hour, but with the soothing tones of Ira Glass to keep me company, I didn't really mind too much. The Garden State soundtrack is a great soundtrack for driving thru The Garden State on a gloomy day, and lasts almost as long as New Jersey.

We arrived in DC only about 30 min after my projected arrival time, and without further problem. The company housing apartment I am staying in is swank. It's a luxury high-rise with a water feature in the lobby. I could never afford to live here in my real life, but I sure as heck am gonna enjoy pretending like I could.

....the best part-I have a dishwasher and laundry in unit.

Oh, and if you are still worried about the dog, he looked like he was okay as the police were taking him to get checked out by the vet.....

Home.

Anyone who has ever moved from one city to another knows it is a sometimes scary, sometimes invigorating, sometimes lonely thing. (Pro-tip - Never listen to more than 3 Elliot Smith songs in a row while packing) I finished packing up my boxes, taking cast-offs to Goodwill, and started loading my storage unit. While doing these things I realized Connecticut was never my home. I have never made the change from 'is this how you do it here?' to 'this is how we do it here'.

I came east sight-unseen. My job here is awesome. The people I work with are kind, funny, and talented. Yet still, Connecticut never felt like home.

I finally hit on it last Saturday when I realized I've never nailed my pictures to my bedroom wall. I didn't unpack my boxes of research and art books. In short:I never finished moving in, and I've been here almost two full years.

This prompts the question- What makes something or someplace feel like home? Is it your stuff? Is it your friends? Is it the feeling of community you get from your neighborhood? Or is it simply your mindset? Do you have to decide that you are home, and the rest falls into place?

I hope it all becomes clear when I arrive in my new home. While prepping for this move some of my friends want me to tell them I will be in DC for a year or two and then I will finally arrive and be home in NYC. But for me, I can't go into this move feeling like it is yet another temporary layover before my life begins. I want to move somewhere and know I am finally, really, and truly



Home.

Lookng for love in all the wrong places.......

I bought an iPhone. I am almost ashamed to say it was my first purchase of an apple product. Previously- no iPod, no Mac computer, nothin. However it was almost 2 weeks after I purchased my iPhone before I made my first visit to an Apple store. And let me just say....wow....I've been looking for love in all the wrong places!

No one told me that the Apple store is a mecca for kinda nerdy, kinda hot boys in their later 20's. I could have saved myself at least $200 in lame Eharmony payments if someone would have just told me-- Hey Katie, all the boys you might want to date work at the genius bar. Aaaack! It was like all the stereotypes of my ex boyfriends were in one place at one time. There was Mr. horn-rimmed glasses, Mr. too many tattoos, Mr. too many piercings, and Mr. too many tattoos, piercings and big glasses.
And not only were they cute, but the 'genius' I spoke to was totally smart, charming, and really nice. Everything a girl could hope for in a genius.

Now to make an appointment at the local Apple store in DC to get a little one to one training for my iPhone.

Oh, and the move is going well (whatever!)

Sea of allergies

Hello all,

Sorry I haven't posted about the results of the Craftastic yet. It was an awesome show with a good turn out and tons a really talented and creative women showing their work. I had my best sales (other than holiday markets) to date, and it was great to talk to so many of you face to face.

I have had a major allergy attack this week, and have been following a strict regimine of anti-histamines and decongestants during the day and spending as much time asleep as I can manage. I'm sure I'll feel much better in about 3 days, once the leaky faucet that is my face quits - look for a more in-depth blog and my spring line >> online.

Hope you are all feeling great and enjoying the amazing spring weather. I know I will once this pollen bloom quits.

Until then- Check out the pictures on the CT ETSY team blog! The link is just over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Craftastic+Katie= Shop Class.

The Craftastic is tomorrow. I am ready, tagged, I got change from the bank, I picked out my favorite crafty tshirt and made sure my lucky socks are washed! I am prepped and ready to go----except for a fabulous way to display the 20+ knitted beaded bracelets I have made. So I got the brilliant idea of a bracelet tree. Don't ask, sometimes it's better to just imagine how these ideas pop into my head.....




Did I mention I have a fine arts degree? I can't decide if I love it for it's handmade and slightly off-kilter look or if I think it looks like something a kid who isn't allowed to use power tools in shop class made..........

Either way it and the rest of my spring line will be in Hamden tomorrow. Come see me and 11 other members of the Connecticut Etsy Team. Remember- Mother's day is right around the corner, and your Mom is tired of getting crystal frogs.





xo
-Katie

Moving, Taxes, and iCrack

It has been another interesting week. No acrobats this week, but lots of taking care of business.


#1 I lost my cell phone. This might sound like a disaster, but when taken into account it was 3 years old, and about 4 years obsolete- not too bad. The downside- I lost every phone number I have, so if you are a personal friend- call or text me your phone number so I can add you back. The upside- I bought an iPhone and leaped into conspicuous consumption of the most superior kind.




The iPhone is supposed to be SO user friendly that it does not come with a user manual. Fine, good enough, however when you are a PC user and you can't get your Apple phone to jive with your PC and the only tech support offered is a PHONE NUMBER?!?!!?!....Houston we have a problem. Long story short, it took me 2.5 hours to activate it. I was fully and totally humbled. I have also been annoyed and feeling a little like I should have thought about this more clearly when I realized that my MICROSOFT Hotmail will not open on my APPLE iPhone. hmmmm...

#2 I received a price quote to move. Sounds great, except for what they priced me to move, I could give away everything I own and buy new. Further investigation has revealed a better and more cost efficient way to do this, but wowwsa. Apparently people are willing to pay alot to not have to deal with their stuff. My move has just gotten more complicated, but will in the end cost me about what I had budgeted for it. Thankfully, I have some nice people here who are willing to help a girl out one last time.

#3 I did my taxes. before I go any further- I have to say I used Taxact.com for the second year in a row, and it rocks. I am totally mathematically and organizationally impaired and even I could use this software. This year it was not a moment of triumph, or sorrow. I got something back from the feds, but owed the state of CT a little. I am constantly amazed by the amount of money Connecticut gets from their residents. How this state has such horrible schools and roads will never be satisfactorily explained to me. There simply is no reasonable explanation.

#4 It is getting warm. I love spring. There are few things that make me happier than walking outside and not feeling my snot freeze. Even if it means I need to do my taxes.........

Color Test????

Creepy!

Katie took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting n..." Click here to read the rest of the results.